Soccer star parents in robbery terror

A GANG of knife-wielding thugs held-up the terrified parents of Manchester United star Paul Scholes before stealing their luxury car. Stewart and Marina Scholes were asleep at their semi-detached home in a quiet cul-de-sac in Rhodes when four balaclava-clad raiders smashed their way in through the patio doors.

A GANG of knife-wielding thugs held-up the terrified parents of Manchester United star Paul Scholes before stealing their luxury car.

Stewart and Marina Scholes were asleep at their semi-detached home in a quiet cul-de-sac in Rhodes when four balaclava-clad raiders smashed their way in through the patio doors.

The thugs, armed with two blades and a cricket bat, then demanded the keys to the couple's silver Audi.

Two of the gang then fled in the car while the other two made off on foot after the raid at around 9.25pm on Sunday 7 October - the vehicle was later found abandoned by police in Crumpsall.

Gas pipe fitter Stewart, aged 50, said: "My wife went down to confront these lads. She screamed at me, I ran down to see them waving knives about.

"They were shouting what they were going to do if I didn't give them the car keys...so I just said, 'There's the keys, leave us alone'."

The couple, who have lived in Rhodes for around five years, were unhurt in the raid but were said to have been badly shaken by the attack.

His wife Marina said: "It was horrible."

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "There were four lads in balaclavas and they smashed their way in through the patio window. I heard a bang and thought 'what is that?' I came out to the front and I saw four of them stood at each door of the Audi. They were armed so I picked up a hammer. Two of them ran off on foot and two of them sped off in the car."

"They were just kids but they knew exactly what they were coming for - a couple of them had knives and one of them was carrying a big log-end. I have lived here for four years and we have never had anything like this before the whole close is shocked. You do not expect this on your doorstep.

"They are a lovely couple and have lived here for about five or six years. It has shaken them up. I spoke to their daughter yesterday and she said the police had recovered the car. It is only a small close and people are very shocked this has happened."

Manchester United star Paul, 32, was also said to be furious at the attack.

Dad Stewart said: "He is disgusted."

The parents of Alkrington-born comedian Steve Coogan were also the victim of armed raiders in January 2002.

Machete-wielding burglars confronted terrified Tony Coogan and his wife Kathleen at their Manchester New Road home and demanded that they hand over the keys to their blue Volvo V70.

A police spokesman confirmed that inquiries were continuing into Sunday night's raid.

The offenders are described as being aged between 16 to 20-years-old, of slim to medium build. Three of them were about 5ft 6in and the fourth was about 5ft 10in.

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